Behind Every Blog Is A Person

Yesterday, I permitted my fears (unfounded or not) to come directly to these pages for all the world to see. I asked for a hug, and you came out in my support. You also came out to whoop me upside the head and say “snap out of it already.”

Yes, I needed that and thank you. I also needed to be a person, a human with fears and emotions, and needs. I needed to know if there was comfort in my future or uncertainty? I needed to vent the unsettledness that ruled me yesterday and the days prior to clear the way for the get-up-and-go ‘tude you all have come to expect from me.

Did you read The Jack B today? I just did before I sat down to crank out this post. He’s certainly sharing some thoughtful, personal, frightening, raw thoughts because he is a person behind his blog — real, fighting for his family’s future and his own.

We learned of the passing of someone’s child via a blog post recently, and this threw everyone into a tailspin. We heard of another losing his job with four children at home, and that provoked support and encouragement. We learned that a Twitter pal had found love and employment, and that has put him on a path of happiness.

You see, each of us has to be human at some point or another. Without that kind of persona occasionally peeking through, a blog would be merely mechanical and cold.

I want to say that your comments from yesterday’s post assured me we’re all in this together, regardless of whether we live in Costa Rica, Canada or Sweden. When someone is going through a rough spot, and seeks a bit of acknowledgment that it’s all going to be okay, a community becomes more than family. It becomes a hug.

So, while I allowed myself to show a bit of unusual behavior recently (stemming from a financial decision I made that has me fearful and positive), you saw a human behind this blog.

Comments

I can relate to all the terrors and anxieties you listed in that post. My daughter is 8 1/2. I’m a single mum, working for myself. The pressures come from all around and can leave us breathless.

I’m thinking about meeting with a financial advisor because I don’t want to just “hope for the best” and then have that come back and bite me in the ass, BUT … you can only do what you can do – take one day at a time. Figure things out one step at a time.

I know it’s part of your biz, but I don’t watch the news. The really important things I get via Facebook and Jon Stewart. 😉 I can’t handle the rest of it. I know that sounds head-in-sand-ish, but I prefer to focus on my immediate “circle of influence,” and then I get involved (with petitions, donations, writing about certain topics) as things come across my radar via friends and family. You can’t do it all. You can’t fix it all. You can’t even take it all in.

One day, one challenge at a time. And remember to enjoy each moment for what it is. XO

@suddenlyjamie The coolest thing about you, Jamie, is not that you have my name (cuz I’m older!), it’s because we both walk the path of single mothers, self-employed. What you say is so spot on and reminds me that I cannot do it all, yet I try.

I also in the past tried to remove myself from the news; yet, it just seems to come from all angles now. There isn’t any single source not fraught with disaster messages of some sort.

That’s why I need to readjust focus to ensuring my stress and life’s balance is settled so I can ensure kidlet has a solid foundation to endure her imbalances and growth as a 10yo.

When I read “Behind Every Blog is a Person” I had to think of all the email offers my org gets for paid guest blog posts. Thing is, they have like nothing to do with our work. One guy was going to write about drill bits, or something. We’re a health foundation, darnit! We also got a blast email recently if we would help the sender fix their 2006 Cadillac Escalade. WHAT?????????????? It can be so hard to find the humanity behind that!

@jennwhinnem I’m thinking those aren’t people? How about metal people? Like robots?? Geoff Livingston has a post today about Hubspot3 and dynamic automation of content. It has given me pause about the future of the humanity behind what we do.

I wrote a post @SpinSucks awhile ago about authenticity; I may need to resurrect that b/c we’re on the brink of becoming irrelevant like a typesetter or film photographer or, ahem, architect (?) at the risk of the wrath of Ralph Dopping and Patty Swisher .

@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Geoff Livingston Ralph Dopping Patty Swisher @SpinSucks GOTTA be robots! The administrative assistant and I had a good laugh over that one. Actually I looked up his email address online and it turns out he was attractive! EVEN FUNNIER.

@Soulati | B2B Social Media MarketingJayme, Is it the brink of irrelevance or evolution? Yes, for those who don’t adapt and change extinction is possible. The future is uncertain for everyone that’s what CAN make it so exciting!

Aren’t we already “mechanical people” like robots to some extent? We have artificial organs and equipment that can keep us alive, we are dependent upon (air) conditioned spaces for our comfort, we rely on electronic (artificial) forms for our communication, we utilize technology to perform as many tasks as “humanly” possible.

The architecture profession is changing. Fortunately, I am in marketing communication though I have relied on this industry for my livelihood for the past 15+ years. Those that recognize the need to change (like ALL of us, no matter our profession: PR, marketing, medicine, engineering, ??) we have the opportunity to embrace and adapt. Technology demands a plethora of technical skills. Architecture today requires a combination of artistry and craft, utilizing those technical skills to create spaces that positively impact our world. Sometimes we are successful.

Companies like Sony, Canon or Nikon had to adapt to digital technologies a few years ago and were able to survive and thrive. On the other hand, Kodak did not; their extinction is eminent if not already past. Understanding our history enables us to draw correlations to our circumstances, to recognize the challenges at hand and the opportunities we are presented with.

We all have fears, some crippling. We all need hugs now and then from our “communities” of family and friends, as much as anything this makes us human.

Even in need, you make us think deeply. *hugs*cc: @jennwhinnemRalph Dopping

@pmswish @jennwhinnem Ralph Dopping I honestly wish you’d blog, Girl. You have some amazing thoughts and context to share. Can I convince you and invite you again to blog here? I’m trying to rabble up The SMB Collective — @jennwhinnem and @New England Multimedia and @jonbuscall all know about that.

I need bloggers to infuse guest posts on occasion — a place to show you wares and your company.

Think on that, please? I love what you said up there, too. So spot on.

I think that’s the magic behind blogging – you get an insight into the people behind the business. It’s what makes blogs so unique. And, when you go out of your comfort zone to share personal stuff, people get to know you better and are more invested in you and what you have to say. It’s hard to open up, but often good when we do. I know I could stand to do more of it!

I’m sorry I wasn’t there to rally behind you yesterday, but sending you a hug a day late. I’m glad your community stepped up and delivered!

@lauraclick And, you’re certainly a large part of “your community,” Laura. Without you and everyone else here who will listen to a rant every now and again, I could not pick up and blog again with the fervor everyone deserves from me. Thanks for being here!

Thanks for today’s post J. I’m touched to see the brave woman in you step forward. I was interviewing Mitch Joel today and he was talking about how he never really reveals anything from his offline life online. Now that’s Mitch’s choice and I’m a lot like that. But your posts are personal and I take heart from that. We’re not just marketing machines or PR people. We’re more than our careers and sometimes things come around like a blog post that stop us in our tracks and remind us of that.

@jonbuscall I used to be that way, too, Jon, and I wonder if it’s because Mitch holds such amazing power and authority as a global speaker? In person, however, his presentation style left a bit to be desired after he cracked too many sexual innuendos in a presentation to his peers and 300 others who didn’t know him.

That said, i’ve been blogging here for almost 2.5 years. If I can’t come clean to my community by now that something is amiss with me, then to whom can I?

It’s because of you and everyone here that I’m able to do that; I thank you always, Friend.

I love the title of this post and I think there’s huge power in vulnerability. And the beauty of life is Mitch Joel does his thing online, and he does it with incredible poise and finesse, and you do your thing online too. We are all different and that’s what makes us all great. Thanks for sharing 🙂

@GeoffReiner Thanks, Geoff. He is amazingly gifted at what he does; thanks for being here in my community, tool When I think of what would happen if I didn’t have the blog, I cringe as serious boredom would envelop me.

I believe we were created for relationship, Jayme, so it’s only natural we would want to know the person behind the blog! I love your more-personal posts, especially when you share the things that bother you. We get to peek inside your heart and see what’s important to you, not just as a business owner and entrepreneur, but as a woman, as a Mom, as an American, as a world citizen.

A plus for those of us who may need the services of a blogger-for-business: the insight we gain from more personal posts — whether on a blog or via social media — gives us important insight into someone’s character and personality, so we can know ahead of time what to expect in a business relationship. I told Scott about your bold, passionate personality before the two of you worked together. He says you are indeed #RockHot!

@New England Multimedia Ahh, Michelle, I think you ought to be a speech writer. Your eloquence delivers such warm, positive feelings that are authentic and sincere. Thank you, always for your incredible support. Our journey has only just begun!

You know, we all have those moments, Jayme, but you shared yours in a way that makes everyone here better for it. To know the power of your words, you only have to look at the responses below and on the previous post. You have true friends and a true community.

@adamtoporek Because I’m not where I was yesterday and the day before, Adam, I’m not gonna cry! Your words are powerful, too, and that’s what makes this community so much more special than so many others. I see it, I read it elsewhere, and I know that what happens here is NOT the echo chamber.

In fact, the length of commentary that happens here is astonishing, really. People really feel they can open it up and share. For that, I’m grateful to you and everyone here.

(The tears are there; just not lettin’ them ruin my mascara, darnit!) XO, Adam! Thank you!

We are all human no matter what. The only way that this expression is possible is because of us behind the keyboard, phone or whatever. Plain and simple. Understanding comes as part of that. Sure, like @pmswish suggested we are all becoming somewhat mechanical in our nature but there is one thing all the mechanization cannot take away from us. That’s HEART!